The staff [Wake Forest U] here was incredible. They were all ver compassionate, and very helpful. They got back to me within minutes sometimes of me messaging through the patient portal. The communication at this clinic is some of the best I’ve ever experienced with any Dr.... Very innovative, as a whole just a wonderful place where you don’t question the care you’re receiving. Only weakness is that their costs for the more expensive treatments are high, still reasonable compared to some...

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Age

31 - 32

Treated

2017 - 2018

Success with this Doc

?

Race

European, Other

Income

$50K - $99K

Occupation

—

Order & Number of Docs Seen

1 Doc Seen

Treatment

3 Fertility Medications

Diagnosis

Tubal Blockage

10

Describe your experience with Wake Forest University.

Very innovative, as a whole just a wonderful place where you don’t question the care you’re receiving. Only weakness is that their costs for the more expensive treatments are high, still reasonable compared to some, but I think because they are a part of Wake Forest Baptist they don’t have as much say in prices for services offered.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Erika Johnston-MacAnanny at Wake Forest University?

She’s incredibly thorough and takes her time, she worked with me to explore all options and helped me reach conclusions so I could move on to the next treatment.

The staff here was incredible. They were all ver compassionate, and very helpful. They got back to me within minutes sometimes of me messaging through the patient portal. The communication at this clinic is some of the best I’ve ever experienced with any Dr.

How was your experience with Erika Johnston-MacAnanny at Wake Forest University?

She incredibly thorough, kind and a great sense of humor which can make difficult situations less difficult. I felt very confident with all her courses of treatment and she was always spot on with what she’d expected. I never felt rushed or pushed. She always gave very thorough answers to ALL of my many many questions no matter how silly some of them were. I was always very confident in her decisions. I’m very thankful to have used her during some very difficult experiences.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Erika Johnston-MacAnanny at Wake Forest University?

She knows what she’s doing, so you can feel confident to trust her plan.

Describe the protocols Erika Johnston-MacAnanny used in your cycles at Wake Forest University and their degree of success.

After multiple Miscarriages from having a Tubal Reversal to try and repair my tubes with a different dr, Dr.Johnston first preformed an HSG to be sure there were no blockages. The next step when I had another Miscarriage was to take 5mg Femara on CD 3-7 to try and encourage my good side/tube for the embryo to use which could then prevent possible ectopics that I was experiencing on my left side. The first two cycles I did in fact ovulate on my right side just as she predicted, the third cycle it was my left. After not getting pregnant during those cycles I chose to take a break. When I went on to have more Miscarriages she started to encourage IVF and that bypassing my tubes would give great chances of success. I was never open to trying IVF but feel more confident after speaking with her to try that path which is where I am now.

My HSG, Bloodwork, And Medicated cycles were all covered by insurance. The quote I was given for IVF was 8995 for the procedure. An estimate of anywhere from 3000-7000 for IVF meds and another 2000 roughly for embryo testing. Around 500 a year to store fertilized eggs. And then around 3000 per FET cycle not including meds

When discussing IVF she highly encouraged an eSET due me being Type 1 Diabetic and the Toll that twins would have on my body.

10

Doctor

Erika Johnston-MacAnanny

Communication

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Frequency seen during appointments

10

Clinic

Wake Forest University

Winston Salem

Nursing

Operations

Scheduling

Billing

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

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7

Age

31 - 32

Treated

2017 - 2018

Success with this Doc

No

Treatment

3 IUI

Diagnosis

None, Other

7

It [Wake Forest U] is a small office feel, in that most of the staff begins to recognize you after a few visits. The appointments for US and labs are difficult to schedule, and the office is only open during normal business hours. Early morning, weekend, or extended hours are not an option for monitoring...Correct Menopur dosage failed to be communicated after lab results came back in the middle of third IUI cycle. Had to call MD on call in the evening who laughed when I did not know the results of my labs from that day.

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Age

31 - 32

Treated

2017 - 2018

Success with this Doc

No

Race

European

Income

$100K - $199K

Occupation

Nurse or HC Services

Order & Number of Docs Seen

2nd of 2 Docs

Treatment

3 IUI

Diagnosis

None, Other

7

Describe your experience with Wake Forest University.

It is a small office feel, in that most of the staff begins to recognize you after a few visits. The appointments for US and labs are difficult to schedule, and the office is only open during normal business hours. Early morning, weekend, or extended hours are not an option for monitoring, which is a challenge when you work full time. Additionally, appointments are almost never on time, with a wait time of usually at least 15 minutes.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Erika Johnston-MacAnanny at Wake Forest University?

Dr Johnston takes the time to sit and explain everything with you. She validates your feelings, fears, concerns and frustrations. She is sensitive to your specific needs as her patient and involves you in the decision making process. She has made an effort to get to know little details about us, such as our favorite things to do together on weekends, places to eat, favorite foods, etc.

Describe your experience with the nursing staff.

The nursing staff has failed short a few times on communicating effectively, especially late in the day as the clinic is about to close. New medication side effects are never discussed and compassion is rarely shown. I know they work hard and are very busy, but I feel more could be done with educating the patient before they leave to office.

What specific things went wrong at Wake Forest University?

Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy

Failed to call with results

Provided conflicting information

Failed to convey critical information

How was your experience with Erika Johnston-MacAnanny at Wake Forest University?

Dr. Johnston communicates effectively with her patients, even calling them herself at home if questions arise. She has made every effort to include us in decision making for treatment options. There have been several times where she has spent additional minutes out of her busy day talking to us like people, not just her patient and spouse. Her bedside manner is second to none.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Erika Johnston-MacAnanny at Wake Forest University?

She is worth waiting weeks for an appointment with.

Describe the protocols Erika Johnston-MacAnanny used in your cycles at Wake Forest University and their degree of success.

She started me on femara with Ovidrel with timed intercourse following 2 failed rounds of clomid. We then moved to injections of menopur with ovidrel for three IUI cycles, in hopes of increasing my number of mature follicles

most not covered under insurance. Injectables for IUI were partially covered as were labs. The IUI and numerous US are out of pocket expenses

10

Doctor

Erika Johnston-MacAnanny

Communication

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Frequency seen during appointments

7

Clinic

Wake Forest University

Winston Salem

Nursing

Operations

Scheduling

Billing

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

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10

Age

32 - 33

Treated

2017 - 2018

Success with this Doc

?

Treatment

7 IUI, 1 IVF

Diagnosis

Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Poor Egg Quality

10

Wake Forest was a great clinic. The staff were always friendly and caring. Patty, the financial coordinator, was extremely helpful and warm. She answered all of our questions and made herself available whenever we needed.... Lauren was wonderful. She was the main nurse we worked with, but we also had Roxanne who was great as well. Lauren was available 24/7 for questions and put us at ease with our medications. The training for medications was thorough and easy to understand.

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Age

32 - 33

Treated

2017 - 2018

Success with this Doc

?

Race

European

Income

$50K - $99K

Occupation

—

Order & Number of Docs Seen

2nd of 2 Docs

Treatment

7 IUI, 1 IVF

Diagnosis

Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Poor Egg Quality

10

Describe your experience with Wake Forest University.

Wake Forest was a great clinic. The staff were always friendly and caring. Patty, the financial coordinator, was extremely helpful and warm. She answered all of our questions and made herself available whenever we needed.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Jeffrey Deaton at Wake Forest University?

Dr. Deaton is wonderful. He is warm, caring and gives honest expectations. He made my husband and I feel very comfortable and honestly cared about our goals and giving us the best care he could.

Lauren was wonderful. She was the main nurse we worked with, but we also had Roxanne who was great as well. Lauren was available 24/7 for questions and put us at ease with our medications. The training for medications was thorough and easy to understand. If we had questions about the steps after we left, she was easy to reach and happy to help. We could not have done the cycle without Lauren's help!

How was your experience with Jeffrey Deaton at Wake Forest University?

Dr. Deaton was very thorough and took the time to meet with us and answer all of our questions. We never felt rushed and he was very thorough. When we asked him about risks or odds, he was honest and did not get our "hopes up" but was still optimistic about treatment options. He is very knowledgeable and empathetic.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Jeffrey Deaton at Wake Forest University?

Ask any question you think of, even if you think it is a silly question. He can answer anything you are questioning or unsure of, and never makes you feel like it isn't a valid thing to question. It will really put your mind at ease, rather than wondering.

Describe the protocols Jeffrey Deaton used in your cycles at Wake Forest University and their degree of success.

I came to Dr. Deaton from a previous clinic that was very bad. He gave us an honest evaluation of our situation and changed our diagnosis from "unexplained infertility" to "diminished ovarian reserve." He said IVF was our best option (over IUI, etc.) but was not sure how my body would respond to medications and how many eggs I would produce, and the quality of them. However he said if I did not respond well to the meds we would not have to complete the transfer, but my body did respond reasonably well (I took Menopur, progesterone, estradiol, doxycycline) considering my AMH levels, so we went ahead with an egg retrieval. Our embryos were not developing well and I was brought in for a day 2 transfer. It was suggesting that I transfer all 3 formed embryos, however my husband and I decided to only transfer two so we did not risk having triplets. The two embryos transferred did not take, and the remaining embryo never formed enough to be frozen for future use. After this we took a few months off of everything and are now in the process of looking for donor embryos or donor eggs to proceed with a new IVF cycle.

We spent approximately $9000 on the treatments and appointments at Wake Forest, and approximately $1700 on IVF medications. We received a discount on our medications through the clinic helping us sign up for a discount program at a pharmacy they work with frequently.

Our doctor worked with the embryologist to make a recommendation for how many embryos to transfer. He told us from the beginning that because my egg quality was unknown, they would make that "call" as the embryos were forming in order to give us the best odds. I think this was a smart approach, as we were informed of the risks of multiple transfers vs. increased odds, etc. and I believe they made the right decision based on the information at each stage.

10

Doctor

Jeffrey Deaton

Communication

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Frequency seen during appointments

10

Clinic

Wake Forest University

Winston Salem

Nursing

Operations

Scheduling

Billing

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

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7

Age

24 - 26

Treated

2015 - 2017

Success with this Doc

No

Treatment

1 IUI, 1 IVF

Diagnosis

Anovulation, Unexplained

7

Strengths [at Wake Forest University] - good staff, friendly, and organized. Weakness- I believe something failed with the lab and that is why our embryos fragmented. The embryologist was hard to understand and not able to explain why...Nursing staff was very attentive and readily available. They were friendly most days and informative. However, I do not feel they connected with each patient as much as Dr Johnston did...I used menopur, Lipton, /and gonal F during treatments. We used a birth control antagonist protocol before Begining. We did this because she [Dr. Erika Johnston] said we should have great eggs, egg quality, and be able to produce lots of good embryos given an Unexplained dx, and young age.

+ Read more

Age

24 - 26

Treated

2015 - 2017

Success with this Doc

No

Race

Other

Income

$50K - $99K

Occupation

Nurse or HC Services

Order & Number of Docs Seen

1st of 2 Docs

Treatment

1 IUI, 1 IVF

Diagnosis

Anovulation, Unexplained

7

Describe your experience with Wake Forest University.

Strengths - good staff, friendly, and organized.
Weakness- I believe something failed with the lab and that is why our embryos fragmented. The embryologist was hard to understand and not able to explain why.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Erika Johnston-MacAnanny at Wake Forest University?

I was pleased with the way the doctor and nurses treated me. However, -after a failed IVF there was not much talk after. I felt as though my IVF was failed after I was told there was close to 80% chance of success, and there was no explanation why.

Describe your experience with the nursing staff.

Nursing staff was very attentive and readily available. They were friendly most days and informative. However, I do not feel they connected with each patient as much as Dr Johnston did.

What specific things went wrong at Wake Forest University?

Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy

How was your experience with Erika Johnston-MacAnanny at Wake Forest University?

She was very nice and informative. She spent quite a while with my husband and I and answered any questions I had. She made us feel like everything was going to go great and we had great chances for success. However, after only 1 embryo to make it out of 10 eggs and no explanation, I was kind of put off. There was no "answers" to be had, however Dr Johnston did seem compassionate and understanding about the cost of treatments and not being able to afford further treatments

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Erika Johnston-MacAnanny at Wake Forest University?

Go in knowing that although you could have a 99% chance of conceiving, things still may go wrong.

Describe the protocols Erika Johnston-MacAnanny used in your cycles at Wake Forest University and their degree of success.

I used menopur, Lipton, /and gonal F during treatments. We used a birth control antagonist protocol before Begining. We did this because she said we should have great eggs, egg quality, and be able to produce lots of good embryos given an Unexplained dx, and young age.

I paid for all blood draws. Typically about $100 each time. I also was billed for some of the IUI, and for IVF. Still currently owe about 5,000 from last IVF

7

Doctor

Erika Johnston-MacAnanny

Communication

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Frequency seen during appointments

7

Clinic

Wake Forest University

Winston Salem

Nursing

Operations

Scheduling

Billing

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

– Read less

10

Age

30 - 31

Treated

2016 - 2017

Success with this Doc

Yes

Treatment

2 IUI, 2 IVF

Diagnosis

Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Male Factor, Poor Egg Quality

10

Roxanne [nurse at Wake Forest] was amazing. She was organized, very informative and punctually with getting me the meds and information I needed for each cycle. She was a great communicator. I will say that when she was out of the office I did have some trouble getting ahold of the other nurses...Everyone in the clinic was awesome. They were all very welcoming, took time to learn my name and helpful. The clinic was on the older side and was small especially with how busy they were. With that being said it was always very clean.

+ Read more

Age

30 - 31

Treated

2016 - 2017

Success with this Doc

Yes

Race

European, Other

Income

$100K - $199K

Occupation

Nurse or HC Services

Order & Number of Docs Seen

1 Doc Seen

Treatment

2 IUI, 2 IVF

Diagnosis

Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Male Factor, Poor Egg Quality

10

Describe your experience with Wake Forest University.

Everyone in the clinic was awesome. They were all very welcoming, took time to learn my name and helpful. The clinic was on the older side and was small especially with how busy they were. With that being said it was always very clean.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Bansari (Bonnie) Patel at Wake Forest University?

Dr. Patel was absolutely amazing. Anytime I was having a difficult time during my cycles she would call me to reassure me and to help me understand my results. She was always available to me for support.

Roxanne was amazing. She was organized, very informative and punctually with getting me the meds and information I needed for each cycle. She was a great communicator. I will say that when she was out of the office I did have some trouble getting ahold of the other nurses.

How was your experience with Bansari (Bonnie) Patel at Wake Forest University?

Her strengths included her willingness to be aggressive, listen to my concerns, compassionate, and very smart. I felt like she did great explaining test results as well as different procedures. Her weakness would be that on busy days in the clinic I occasionally felt rushed. It is turly difficult to think of her weakness.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Bansari (Bonnie) Patel at Wake Forest University?

Be honest and open about your desires and expectations.

Describe the protocols Bansari (Bonnie) Patel used in your cycles at Wake Forest University and their degree of success.

Oh goodness!
First cycle:started with birth control pills and then we did menopur and gonal-f. I can’t remember the exact dosages but my body did not respond well and she felt that the BCP had supressed my system too much. Ended cycle with IUI.
Second cycle: tried estrogen patches. Then menopur, gonal-f and lurpon. Ended up stopping lupron due to no response. We were able to retrieve eggs for this cycle.
Third cycle: did estrogen patches again. Menopur, gonal-f and growth hormone. By far this was my best cycle!

This clinic [Wake Forest] was able to fit me in just a couple of weeks after our referral. There was no long wait list. They also were more financially feasible for our situation (meaning, our medical needs)...The entire staff was wonderful. I felt like people recognized me (I was going in very often over a course of about 3 weeks), and everyone was kind. I usually saw the same two nurses during my ultrasounds, and the same two lab technicians for my blood draws. The team was flexible with me and my work schedule, and I felt like any time I had questions or needed help, someone was available.

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Age

28

Treated

2016

Success with this Doc

Yes

Race

European

Income

$100K - $199K

Occupation

Teacher

Order & Number of Docs Seen

2nd of 2 Docs

Treatment

5 IUI, 1 IVF, 1 Embryo Freezing

Diagnosis

Unexplained

10

Describe your experience with Wake Forest University.

This clinic was able to fit me in just a couple of weeks after our referral. There was no long wait list. They also were more financially feasible for our situation (meaning, our medical needs) than any other clinic we looked at.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Bansari (Bonnie) Patel at Wake Forest University?

Any time I sent an email or called the clinic, Dr. Patel or my nurse got back to me quickly. Dr. Patel even responded a message at 10 pm on a Saturday night. My initial transfer was cancelled due to OHSS, and Dr. Patel talked through my emotions with me and the pros and cons of fresh versus frozen embryo transfers, and she helped me make peace with any decisions I made. She also has a very warm personality and didn't let me be too serious (which is something I needed!!)

The entire staff was wonderful. I felt like people recognized me (I was going in very often over a course of about 3 weeks), and everyone was kind. I usually saw the same two nurses during my ultrasounds, and the same two lab technicians for my blood draws. The team was flexible with me and my work schedule, and I felt like any time I had questions or needed help, someone was available.

How was your experience with Bansari (Bonnie) Patel at Wake Forest University?

Dr. Patel was great. For our initial visit for IVF, she went over all of my paperwork with my husband and I, and we talked about our past treatment (we had been at a different clinic for a year and a half). She explained all the risks, rewards, statistics, etc. She was very up front and direct, but she was still kind and positive throughout the entire experience. I was nervous, and at some appointments emotional, and she always made sure to ask how I was feeling and why, and then she would address anything she could help with.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Bansari (Bonnie) Patel at Wake Forest University?

To just be honest with Dr. Patel - I don't think anything could shock her, and she is always willing to answer questions.

Describe the protocols Bansari (Bonnie) Patel used in your cycles at Wake Forest University and their degree of success.

I did Gonal-F and Menopur injections for 12 days, adding in Cetrotide to prevent ovulation on Day 6 of stims. I was on low dosages, due to my PCOS and high AMH and follicle count, so I stimmed lower and longer. She and my nurse made adjustments throughout the cycle to help prevent OHSS. I ended up with 24 eggs at my egg retrieval, 18 fertilized, and we ended up freezing 9 good quality embryos. I ended up with mild OHSS anyways, but it was not serious.

Our IVF cycle + meds was about $12,000. An additional $900 for cryopreservation.

9

Doctor

Bansari (Bonnie) Patel

Communication

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Frequency seen during appointments

10

Clinic

Wake Forest University

Winston Salem

Nursing

Operations

Scheduling

Billing

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

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10

Age

44 - 46

Treated

2012 - 2014

Success with this Doc

Yes

Treatment

4 IUI, IVF, Donor Eggs

Diagnosis

Other, Unexplained

10

The greatest strengths at WF [Wake Forest] are the people! In addition to the exceptional Doctors and medical staff, the other members of the team operate at the same standard. The receptionist and phlebotomists were attentive and efficient. The billing department (Patti) was AVAILABLE, knowledgeable, creative in helping us with our expenses, and cared about my outcome. The embryologists (my Babies' first babysitters) were AVAILABLE, skilled, and... again... caring. This is a smaller clinic...

+ Read more

Age

44 - 46

Treated

2012 - 2014

Success with this Doc

Yes

Race

European

Income

$100K - $199K

Occupation

—

Order & Number of Docs Seen

2nd of 2 Docs

Treatment

4 IUI, IVF, Donor Eggs

Diagnosis

Other, Unexplained

10

Describe your experience with Wake Forest University.

The bottom line is I was successful in completing my Family at Wake Forest. I don't believe I would have had the same outcome at the first clinic (REACh) where I was a patient.
The greatest strengths at WF are the people! In addition to the exceptional Doctors and medical staff, the other members of the team operate at the same standard. The receptionist and phlebotomists were attentive and efficient. The billing department (Patti) was AVAILABLE, knowledgeable, creative in helping us with our expenses, and cared about my outcome. The embryologists (my Babies' first babysitters) were AVAILABLE, skilled, and... again... caring.
This is a smaller clinic. The stats don't have the big numbers you find at other places, but the percentages are great.
I am a member of an online group for infertility with thousands of others walking the infertility journey in search of their baby(ies). The individualized and involved care I received was unparalleled when comparing notes with other members of the group. Other members were often surprised at the amount of detailed information I had about my case; the direct communication with my RE, embryologist, and the staff; the availability and knowledge of the billing department; and the overall care shown to me and my Donor throughout the process.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Erika Johnston-MacAnanny at Wake Forest University?

I had previously been with REACh in Charlotte, so had first hand knowledge of the "cattle" approach to infertility treatment for woman. My experience with Wake Forest Baptist Health Center for Reproductive Medicine doctors and staff was the exact opposite. They KNEW me. After the first visit the receptionist, nurses, assistants, embryologists, doctors, billing representative... everyone knew my name, my infertility history, my Husband, my Known Donor... my story. They all CARED. From the first meeting Dr. Johnston spent time listening to me and keeping me informed of the details of my results and next steps. Being involved was important to me and she welcomed my participation. When I needed information I emailed her directly. She always replied quickly... once even when she was on vacation. I worked directly with the embryologists when determining which embryos to transfer. I had pictures and detailed information about every embryo. I was very involved in my process and the clinic respected that and worked with me. With both pregnancies I had wonky beta results. Everyone at the clinic "held my hand" through the grueling wait to determine if my pregnancies would be viable. During the wonky beta experience with my 2nd pregnancy Dr. Johnston was at a conference in Hawaii. She still contacted me directly through that time to help with questions and concerns. I have a Known Donor and their care for her was wonderful.
In the end I don't know that it really matters if you're treated like a human. The goal is to have a baby and, when push comes to shove, not much else matters, but it sure makes the experience gentler when you have understanding doctors and staff that care about your journey and your family. infertility is a nightmare journey. Choosing a smoother road by working with Dr. Johnston was one of the best choices I made in the process.

Following Dr. Johnston's style and direction, the nursing staff is devoted to reaching the goal to have a baby. They were organized, efficient, thorough, compassionate, skilled, and caring.

How was your experience with Erika Johnston-MacAnanny at Wake Forest University?

On day one with Dr. Johnston she candidly told me at my age she would move straight to donor eggs if my objective was to have a baby. She showed me the statistics of other options. She was informative and supportive. She spent as much time with me and my Husband as we needed to answer all of our questions. After the first meeting I had her email address. I didn't hesitate to use it and her response time was amazing.
Our first two transfers resulted in negative betas. After each she sat with me to plan our next steps and to answer long lists of questions I had. She allowed me to be involved in the protocol planning. When I had ideas she was open to them. After the 2nd negative result she ordered aggressive testing and found an issue which she was able to correct.
The next transfer resulted in a positive beta. My betas don't double like other people's betas. Because of this, I didn't get my results from the lab or a nurse. Dr. Johnston worked directly with me through this. She explained what would likely occur and kept me informed of what to expect. When my little wonky beta turned into a heartbeat and numbers aligned to what the norms are I think she was about as happy and excited as my Husband and I were.
Dr. Johnston worked with me to plan my 2nd pregnancy in a manner and time-frame that worked for my Family.
Throughout my journey she was not only the doctor, she was the overall care manager. She individualized my plan of care to meet my goals. She directed her staff in a manner that made each step as painless and as efficient as could be. She accepted and worked with my need to be involved in each step. She offered the information needed to allow for true informed consent. She stayed focused on the big picture while not missing a single detail.
I have a Known Donor. As she did with me, she took prodigious care of her. Donors provide no income to facilities. All of their expenses are incurred by the intended parent(s). With Dr. Johnston it isn't about generating revenue. It's about offering the care it takes to help women come our of the nightmare journey of infertility with a baby(ies) in her arms. She will treat everyone with respect and dignity and be as gentle and thorough as possible.
I've taken my Children back in to show off to the staff and Dr. Johnston. It feels like coming Home. They still care about me and they care about my beautiful Children they helped bring into this world!

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Erika Johnston-MacAnanny at Wake Forest University?

Listen to her and talk to her about your wishes and needs... she has the knowledge and your best interest at heart. She probably wants you to have a baby as much as you want it.

Describe the protocols Erika Johnston-MacAnanny used in your cycles at Wake Forest University and their degree of success.

The below is from memory and my oldest Child is 3, so I could be forgetting parts. Also, I had previous to infertility had tests related to blood-clotting factors, so these were not part of my protocol, but would have been if it had not been done previously.
1st cycle for me and Known Donor... Lupron, Estradal tablets, Vivelle Dot patches, Progesterone in oil, Follistim, Menopur, hCG trigger, and antibiotics for my DH and Donor. Transferred 2 fresh embryos. I think this is all pretty run of the mill. (Negative beta.)
2nd cycle: Dr. performed a SIS. Same protocol for me minus Lupron. I did acupuncture as well. Transferred two thawed embryos. (Negative beta.)
Prior to 3rd transfer: Hysteroscopy and an endo biopsy. The hysteroscopy uncovered a medical issue that was corrected during the procedure. The issue was probably what was keeping implantation from happening. We did some basic immunological testing at this time as well, but I do not remember the specifics. Dr. Johnston was open to every idea I had during our appointment following the failed transfer. We discussed all options and decided together how to move forward.
3rd cycle: Same protocol as 2nd plus low-dose aspirin, Medrol, Folgard, and Valium at transfer. Continued with acupuncture. Transferred two thawed embryos. (Positive beta resulting in a live birth!) I remained under Dr. Johnston's care until we heard a heart beat and was release to my midwives' care.
4th cycle: My period returned on its own, so we did a "natural" cycle protocol. I was still breastfeeding my Daughter during this transfer, so medications were limited to what was not contraindicated. Transferred onethawed embryo. (Positive beta resulting in 2nd live birth!)
My Family is complete.

I do not remember the specifics for the fresh transfer, but know it was in line with what other clinics charged. An FET was $2700 (2012 & 2014). Because our insurance covered very little, but we still paid as we went, we were given significant discounts of overall costs. Patti, in billing was great!

10

Doctor

Erika Johnston-MacAnanny

Communication

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Frequency seen during appointments

10

Clinic

Wake Forest University

Winston Salem

Nursing

Operations

Scheduling

Billing

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

– Read less

10

Age

44 - 48

Treated

2014 - 2018

Success with this Doc

No

Treatment

1 IUI, IVF, Donor Eggs

Diagnosis

Poor Egg Quality

10

Lori [nurse at Wake Forest] was very informative and always catered to answering any of my questions as soon as humanly possible...The clinic was clean, staff was attentive, their was always coffee, television, nice comfortable furniture, plenty of parking, confidential setting, nice and quiet. THe location was easy to get to. Lab for the clinic was also convenient and their techs are very professional. I am frightened of needles but I never was afraid to go in for bloodwork which was down the hall from the clinic I was being seen in.

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Age

44 - 48

Treated

2014 - 2018

Success with this Doc

No

Race

Black or African-American

Income

$0 - $49K

Occupation

—

Order & Number of Docs Seen

2nd of 3 Docs

Treatment

1 IUI, IVF, Donor Eggs

Diagnosis

Poor Egg Quality

10

Describe your experience with Wake Forest University.

The clinic was clean, staff was attentive, their was always coffee, television, nice comfortable furniture, plenty of parking, confidential setting, nice and quiet. THe location was easy to get to. Lab for the clinic was also convenient and their techs are very professional. I am frightened of needles but I never was afraid to go in for bloodwork which was down the hall from the clinic I was being seen in.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Erika Johnston-MacAnanny at Wake Forest University?

She made me feel ok and let me know not to feel bad if the ivf doesn't go all the way through and that I could keep trying. She also had me come back in to check my uterus and assured me my uterus was perfect for carrying a baby if I wanted to try again. She did not give me a pity party when it failed she encouraged me to move forward.

Lori was very informative and always catered to answering any of my questions as soon as humanly possible.

How was your experience with Erika Johnston-MacAnanny at Wake Forest University?

I have been under the care of Erika Johnston-MacAnanny and 2 other doctors from other clinics. She is the only one that treated me as a person that she understood my goals and really wanted to see me succeed. She didn't make me feel like it was all about the money as they did. She made me feel uplifted in my journey regardless of the outcome.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Erika Johnston-MacAnanny at Wake Forest University?

Be honest with her regarding your goals

Describe the protocols Erika Johnston-MacAnanny used in your cycles at Wake Forest University and their degree of success.

She [Dr Erika Johnston-MacAnanny of Wake Forest] remained positive which is what we needed! We proceeded with FET of our last embryo (one did not survive the thaw during the first FET leaving us with only 3 embryos). Dr. Johnston-MacAnanny ordered blood thinners for this transfer even though my clotting factors were normal and now we have a beautiful healthy baby girl!! Dr. Johnston-MacAnanny definitely had our best interest at heart. Her and her staff were caring and supportive throughout our treatment. We would not have our daughter had it not been for Dr. Johnston-MacAnanny and her wonderful team!

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Age

32

Treated

2015

Success with this Doc

Yes

Race

European

Income

$50K - $99K

Occupation

Nurse or HC Services

Order & Number of Docs Seen

2nd of 2 Docs

Treatment

1 IVF

Diagnosis

Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Unexplained

10

How was your experience with Erika Johnston-MacAnanny at Wake Forest University?

We did one round of IVF with ICSI, PGS and 2 FET (first one ending in chemical).
When we first met Dr. Johnston-MacAnanny she was very straight forward about our unexplained infertility diagnosis. During our first meeting she had clearly reviewed our charts and knew everything we had been through and already had a plan In place for us based on her opinion and was very positive about the likelihood of use having a baby. She was very comforting. She was willing to start treatment as soon as we were ready. We were very excited about not having to wait months to get started, especially after all we had been through.
Of our 13 embryos only 4 came back genetically normal from PGS. We transferred 2 embryos durning our first FET which resulted in a chemical. The staff were heartbroken for us and very supportive. Dr Johnston-MacAnanny got us back in to review what may have happened and proposed a new plan. She remained positive which is what we needed! We proceeded with FET of our last embryo (one did not survive the thaw during the first FET leaving us with only 3 embryos). Dr. Johnston-MacAnanny ordered blood thinners for this transfer even though my clotting factors were normal and now we have a beautiful healthy baby girl!!
Dr. Johnston-MacAnanny definitely had our best interest at heart. Her and her staff were caring and supportive throughout our treatment. We would not have our daughter had it not been for Dr. Johnston-MacAnanny and her wonderful team!

The clinic [Wake Forest - WS] is nice and small. You will get to know the entire staff and they are wonderfully supportive. I felt that their management of our issues was very good and would go back without hesitation...Roxanne is a rock star, she was always very on top of things and responded immediately. My emails to Lauren seemed to get lost a lot but she was very nice to work with....Around $12k for a regular IVF cycle, not including meds.

The clinic is nice and small. You will get to know the entire staff and they are wonderfully supportive. I felt that their management of our issues was very good and would go back without hesitation.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Bansari (Bonnie) Patel at Wake Forest University?

Dr. Patel was very compassionate and willing to try cycles with my eggs despite my terrible egg quality. She was also realistic and gave us helpful information to make decisions. She was very educated.

Roxanne is a rock star, she was always very on top of things and responded immediately. My emails to Lauren seemed to get lost a lot but she was very nice to work with.

How was your experience with Bansari (Bonnie) Patel at Wake Forest University?

Dr. Patel was great to work with, she felt like a friend who was also my doctor. We also worked with Dr. Johnston who was great and Dr. Deaton who was a bit harsh about our reality (though we were already aware).

Describe the protocols Bansari (Bonnie) Patel used in your cycles at Wake Forest University and their degree of success.

I don't remember specifics, but she did use gonal F, hcg, and ganirelex. My ovaries were totally shot and didn't really respond, but that has nothing to do with her.

Wake Forest is an excellent program, as they are part of a big medical community in Winston Salem. They are a teaching institution and part of a University, therefore their practice is held to certain policies and restrictions that a private practice physician would not be. I do feel that they have high caliber physicians and staff...The nurses are very kind and quick to respond to me about test results...IUI is approximately $500.00 IVF is approximately $10,000 for retrieval and extra for meds...

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Age

27 - 28

Treated

2016 - 2017

Success with this Doc

?

Race

European

Income

$50K - $99K

Occupation

—

Order & Number of Docs Seen

3rd of 3 Docs

Treatment

3 IUI

Diagnosis

Male Factor

9

Describe your experience with Wake Forest University.

Wake Forest is an excellent program, as they are part of a big medical community in Winston Salem. They are a teaching institution and part of a University, therefore their practice is held to certain policies and restrictions that a private practice physician would not be. I do feel that they have high caliber physicians and staff.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Bansari (Bonnie) Patel at Wake Forest University?

Dr. Patel is very genuine and empathetic. It feels like she has patient driven treatment. An example is that she takes financial situations into account when driving treatment to eliminate that stress factor. She makes eye contact during conversations.

Describe your experience with the nursing staff.

The nurses are very kind and quick to respond to me about test results.

How was your experience with Bansari (Bonnie) Patel at Wake Forest University?

I have seen two previous physicians for infertility treatment and Dr. Patel is the only physician who has been willing to refer my husband to a urologist after we were diagnosed with male factor infertility. She is not adamant about jumping into IVF, as the others were. I feel that she is very knowledgeable and caring.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Bansari (Bonnie) Patel at Wake Forest University?

She is kind and is very good at her job.

Describe the protocols Bansari (Bonnie) Patel used in your cycles at Wake Forest University and their degree of success.

IUI is approximately $500.00
IVF is approximately $10,000 for retrieval and extra for meds

7

Doctor

Bansari (Bonnie) Patel

Communication

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Frequency seen during appointments

9

Clinic

Wake Forest University

Winston Salem

Nursing

Operations

Scheduling

Billing

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

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10

Age

39 - 41

Treated

2014 - 2016

Success with this Doc

Yes

Treatment

IUI, 2 IVF

Diagnosis

Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Unexplained

10

We Loved how people remembered you. Communication was great. Always replied to all emails and calls. They [Wake Forest- WS] even set up appointments over email Sometime not enough staff and had long waits on occasion. Dr. Johnson and Patty are our favorite....Always emailed me back that day and returned calls if needed. Help get medicine that I needed quick....We paid less that 12000 for procedure and 5-7000 for medication each cycle....

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Age

39 - 41

Treated

2014 - 2016

Success with this Doc

Yes

Race

European

Income

$50K - $99K

Occupation

Teacher

Order & Number of Docs Seen

1 Doc Seen

Treatment

IUI, 2 IVF

Diagnosis

Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Unexplained

10

Describe your experience with Wake Forest University.

We Loved how people remembered you. Communication was great. Always replied to all emails and calls. They even set up appointments over email Sometime not enough staff and had long waits on occasion. Dr. Johnson and Patty are our favorite.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Erika Johnston-MacAnanny at Wake Forest University?

She was very efficient but took time to answer questions and relieve any concerns.

Always emailed me back that day and returned calls if needed. Help get medicine that I needed quick.

How was your experience with Erika Johnston-MacAnanny at Wake Forest University?

I had setbacks all along but she always had a new idea. She was always willing to talk about any questions or concerns. Her bed aide manner is great. Talks to us like people and even emailed me personally after I got pregnant.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Erika Johnston-MacAnanny at Wake Forest University?

Ask anything. I always asked questions about what was on ultrasound screens. She always explained.

Describe the protocols Erika Johnston-MacAnanny used in your cycles at Wake Forest University and their degree of success.

Started Ivf because of my age. When we went through several losses still had new ideas and encoruragee us not to give up.

She [Dr. Johnston-MacAnanny] has a great personality and bedside manner that can make even the most anxious person (me) calm. She is so compassionate and empathetic; she genuinely seemed as upset and disappointed as I was after each failed cycle. I love her! I want everyone to be treated by her! ... Ask as many questions as you want about whatever you are concerned about. She will take as much time as you need to explain everything, and she treats no question like a stupid question.

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Age

40

Treated

2014

Success with this Doc

Yes

Race

European, Latino, Black or African-American, Native American

Income

$50K - $99K

Occupation

Nurse or HC Services

Order & Number of Docs Seen

1st of 3 Docs

Treatment

5 IUI, Donor Sperm

Diagnosis

Diminished Ovarian Reserve

10

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Erika Johnston-MacAnanny at Wake Forest University?

She always acknowledged how I was feeling throughout the entire process.

How was your experience with Erika Johnston-MacAnanny at Wake Forest University?

She has a great personality and bedside manner that can make even the most anxious person (me) calm. She is so compassionate and empathetic; she genuinely seemed as upset and disappointed as I was after each failed cycle. I love her! I want everyone to be treated by her!

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Erika Johnston-MacAnanny at Wake Forest University?

Ask as many questions as you want about whatever you are concerned about. She will take as much time as you need to explain everything, and she treats no question like a stupid question.

Describe the protocols Erika Johnston-MacAnanny used in your cycles at Wake Forest University and their degree of success.

I did three cycles of clomid then after a brief break, I had the procedure to check the patency of my fallopian tubes. That procedure is usually done first but I am allergic to the dye used, so Dr MacAnanny wanted to try a few cycles prior to the procedure since I could possibly develop some scarring from an allergic reaction. The procedure went well without any residual effects. Afterwards there was a month break then my medication was changed to letrazole. I was using the letrazole with a trigger injection when I got pregnant.

The only thing I don't like about the clinic [Wake Forest University] is its location. It was short on space and that could be inconvenient at times. Every person that worked there that I encountered was an asset. While my experience was challenging, I always felt so well taken care of by the staff.... I don't know that I could think of a weakness of the nursing staff. They were compassionate and great about communication. They were always happy to take their time and answer all of my questions.

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Age

34 - 35

Treated

2017 - 2018

Success with this Doc

?

Race

European

Income

$50K - $99K

Occupation

Teacher

Order & Number of Docs Seen

1 Doc Seen

Treatment

1 IUI, 1 Egg Freezing

Diagnosis

Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Tubal Blockage

10

Describe your experience with Wake Forest University.

The only thing I don't like about the clinic is its location. It was short on space and that could be inconvenient at times. Every person that worked there that I encountered was an asset. While my experience was challenging, I always felt so well taken care of by the staff.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Erika Johnston-MacAnanny at Wake Forest University?

I could tell that she cared.

Describe your experience with the nursing staff.

I don't know that I could think of a weakness of the nursing staff. They were compassionate and great about communication. They were always happy to take their time and answer all of my questions.

How was your experience with Erika Johnston-MacAnanny at Wake Forest University?

From our very meeting, she was always great to work with. She was very pragmatic but also positive. It was clear that she cared about me as a patient. She did a good job of explaining the science behind my diagnosis and treatment. She was great about communication as well.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Erika Johnston-MacAnanny at Wake Forest University?

She is a wonderful RE and you should work with her if given the chance.

Describe the protocols Erika Johnston-MacAnanny used in your cycles at Wake Forest University and their degree of success.

She [Dr Erika Johnston-MacAnanny at Wake Forest] told me I needed an IUI and tried to fertilize a cyst instead of an egg. I went to see Dr. Deaton for a second opinion after already having a couple of failed IUIs with her and her then suggesting an IVF, turns out I don't have any eggs. My AMH is less than .02, so not even IVF was an option for us. If she had down the proper testing prior to all of these costly procedures she would have known that.

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Age

—

Treated

2013 - 2015

Success with this Doc

No

Race

European, Native American

Income

$100K - $199K

Occupation

—

Order & Number of Docs Seen

1st of 2 Docs

Treatment

2 IUI

Diagnosis

Anovulation, Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Male Factor, PCOS

0

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Erika Johnston-MacAnanny at Wake Forest University?

She told me I needed an IUI and tried to fertilize a cyst instead of an egg. I went to see Dr. Deaton for a second opinion after already having a couple of failed IUIs with her and her then suggesting an IVF, turns out I don't have any eggs. My AMH is less than .02, so not even IVF was an option for us. If she had down the proper testing prior to all of these costly procedures she would have known that.

Describe your experience with the nursing staff.

They take a long time to call you back.

What specific things went wrong at Wake Forest University?

Failed to call with results

Failed to order appropriate test

Failed to send your chart to another clinic

Failed to inform you of changes in protocol

Provided conflicting information

Failed to convey critical information

0

Doctor

Erika Johnston-MacAnanny

Communication

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Frequency seen during appointments

0

Clinic

Wake Forest University

Winston Salem

Nursing

Operations

Scheduling

Billing

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

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10

Age

26 - 27

Treated

2013 - 2014

Success with this Doc

Yes

Treatment

1 IVF, 1 Egg Freezing

Diagnosis

Male Factor, Unexplained

10

[The staff at Wake Forest Fertility was] Caring and organized. Great personality!...She [Dr. Johnston - MacAnanny] was amazing! Bedside manner was awesome. She truly cared about my husband and I. No complaints at all from her! She helped and guided us through out the process.

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Age

26 - 27

Treated

2013 - 2014

Success with this Doc

Yes

Race

Prefer not to answer

Income

$50K - $99K

Occupation

—

Order & Number of Docs Seen

1 Doc Seen

Treatment

1 IVF, 1 Egg Freezing

Diagnosis

Male Factor, Unexplained

10

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Erika Johnston-MacAnanny at Wake Forest University?

She was amazing! Bedside manner was awesome. She truly cared about my husband and I